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[0:01] Joel Crump: What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. Not only is it another episode, but it's the last episode of 2023. So today I'm going to be sharing my top 10 favorite shows of the year. I'm also going to be sharing my favorite Broadway moments, some Broadway buzz, and my favorite interviews from this year, as well as the top pick from my momager, executive producer, and camera woman, my mom. You don't want to miss my favorite moments from Victoria Clark, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and NaTasha Yvette Williams. So without further ado, let's get on to your last Weekly Dose of Joel of 2023.

[0:39] Joel Crump: Broadway Buzz. There isn't too much Broadway buzz this week, but we do have some very exciting things going on before we go into the new year. To start off, The Book of Mormon becomes the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history on December 28th. So this Broadway production has been on Broadway for, I'm pretty sure, over 10 years, and it surpassed its Jersey Boys, becoming the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history. The Book of Mormon is also becoming the longest-running show in the history of Dew Jamsen Theaters, and the longest-running production in the 98-year history of the Eugene O'Neill Theater. I mean, this is so incredible for this show, you know. Shows hope to become long-running shows.

Shows hope to, you know, have a nice, nice, nice long time on Broadway. And The Book of Mormon is just one of those shows that became a hit, and it's still a hit to this day. And I actually saw The Book of Mormon for the first time over this summer, and it was very funny. I mean, it was just very funny. I went into the theater not knowing really what to expect, and I was very surprised. So everybody, congratulations to The Book of Mormon.

[1:48] Joel Crump: The 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors aired on December 27th, and boy, were they fantastic. The ceremony was hosted by Gloria Estefan and honored the best of the best, including Tony-nominated actor and comedian Billy Crystal, acclaimed soprano and Tony-nominated actor Renee Fleming, British singer-songwriter-producer and member of the B's G's Barry Gibb, rapper, singer, and actor Queen Latifah, and Grammy-winning singer Dionne Warwick. This night was so fantastic, and there were performances from some of my favorites, including Cynthia Erivo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Titus Burgess. So you can still watch this awards ceremony on Paramount+. It is streaming on Paramount+, and you are going to want to go back and watch these stellar performances.

And also, this night was honoring some of my absolute favorites, you know, Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick. I mean, people that have such huge contributions to the industry, the art industry, the music industry, that we know and love. And I mean, Billy Crystal is the voice of Mike Wazowski, so what's not to love? So make sure you stream the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors.

[3:02] Joel Crump: My last piece of Broadway buzz is that Darren Criss and Evan Rachel Wood are going to be starring in the off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. The duo will succeed Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu, and they will step into the roles of Audrey and Seymour in the long-running revival. I mean, this news was a rumor online. You know, everybody heard rumblings that, you know, Darren Criss and Evan Rachel Wood are going to be in the show. And we really don't know what to expect. And I feel like Broadway is just in this time of rumors. Of course, we have the Gatsby rumors, we have the Sunset Boulevard rumors, and then we had this rumor. And this rumor is true. So make sure you guys go get your tickets to go see Darren Criss and Evan Rachel Wood in Little Shop of Horrors.

[3:45] Joel Crump: Now I'm going to be sharing my top 10 shows of 2023. I mean, this year I saw over 35 shows. That includes Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, touring. And I'm also considering the one show I saw at 54 Below. I saw Patti LuPone at 54 Below, A Night to Always Remember. But this is my top 10 shows. And I'm also going to be sharing, you know, my favorite red carpets and all that type of stuff. But here is my top 10 list of 2023. At number 10 is El Mago Pop. I saw this show on opening night and it was a magic show and it blew my mind. I mean, I can't believe I was able to see this magic on a Broadway stage. And I wish it had more than like 10 performances because I wish more people saw this show. But it was A Night to Remember and it was so spectacular.

[4:33] Joel Crump: Number 9 is going to Here Lies Love. I saw Here Lies Love in previews and I mean, the show was spectacular. It was so fun, it was so immersive. You were like, I personally was not on the stage. I sat on the side. There were the side seatings where I was above the stage. And I mean, that was super fun. People to have a direct view down to what was going on on the dance floor. But it was just such a fun show and I wish it had stayed on Broadway for a little bit longer. But I'm glad the story was told on the biggest stage in the world. That is Broadway.

[5:02] Joel Crump: Number 8 is going to Ragtime at Signature Theatre. Signature Theatre is the theatre here in DC, the DC area. It's in Arlington, Virginia. And this is my first time seeing Ragtime. And being able to see so many performers in such a small space was magical. And I saw this show just a couple of weeks ago and Ragtime is just that prologue. The opening number has just been replaying in my brain over and over and over again. It's such a great show and Signature Theatre did it fantastically. And the cast was just stellar. I mean, everything about this show was just truly chef's kiss. And I wish, I wish Ragtime came back to Broadway. You know what, it's time to revive Ragtime. Is it a huge cast? Yes. Would it cost a lot of money? Yes. But do we need it? Absolutely.

[5:47] Joel Crump: Number 7 goes to Pearly Victorious. I mean, wow, you guys. This show is so funny. Leslie Odom Jr. and Cara Young. And honestly, that entire cast absolutely killed it. I mean, this show is only one act and it goes by so quickly. You're like, what? This show's over? And I can't believe that this show was written over 40 years ago by the unbelievable Ozzy Davis. And I also can't believe this was his first Broadway revival. I mean, this show's so fantastic. It should be revived every 20 years because I feel like these topics are always going to be relevant. And I'm so glad I was able to see this show on opening night.

[6:22] Joel Crump: Number 6 goes to Sweeney Todd. But it goes to two productions of Sweeney Todd, so it's a tie for number 6. It goes to Sweeney Todd on Broadway and Sweeney Todd at Signature Theatre. I mean, Sweeney Todd on Broadway was thrilling. The choreography was magical. And, I mean, listen, they got a lot of A for that choreography, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. And also seeing Josh Groban and Anna Lee Ashford and Daniel Yearwood on that stage blew my mind. They're also incredible. And then here at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, seeing Nathaniel Stampley and Brianna Marie Parham, they were absolutely fantastic. I mean, their takes on Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett were brilliant. And what Signature Theatre did with the blood and not using the real fake blood and using the strings blew my mind. It was so brilliant. So that show in general, Sweeney Todd, at Signature Theatre and on Broadway, made my number 6 slot. And it just reminds me why Stephen Sondheim is so brilliant.

[7:16] Joel Crump: Number 5 goes to Swept Away at Arena Stage. I mean, I saw this show on its opening night. And, you guys, Swept Away was just insanely devastating and insanely fantastic. I mean, the music written by the Ava brothers blew my mind. This is all their original music. It's considered a jukebox musical. And, I mean, you would not tell at all. It sounds like a Broadway score. And it truly is a real Broadway score. And the arrangements were so well done. And the cast was just brilliant. And just all the things that take place in this show. It's a one-act show. And all the things that take place is just like what in the world? I mean, you guys have to see it to believe it. And I hope, I hope, hope, hope, hope, hope this show comes to Broadway because I will be there. Because it's just so brilliant.

[8:03] Joel Crump: Number 4 goes to Ja Ja's African Hair Braiding. I mean, you guys, this show was revolutionary for Broadway in my opinion. It was a full-back cast. A cast almost only filled by women except for one, my man, Michael Eloydier. And the show was produced by LaChanze and by Jocelyn Beo and directed by Whitney White. And it was just magical. It was truly, truly magical. I mean, it told the stories of what happens in an African hair braiding salon so well. And the chemistry with all the cast on stage was so well done. And the show was hilarious and had a devastating ending. And I wish the show ran longer on Broadway. If you were able to live stream it, congratulations. Because, I mean, you wanted to see this piece of theater live. And it's so incredible when live streaming happens on Broadway. But Ja Ja's African Hair Braiding was such an incredible show. And I can't wait when it's revived and when it's done regionally. So, so many other people can see this fantastic show.

[8:59] Joel Crump: All right, we've made it to the top three. And taking the number three slot is Paper Mill Playhouse's production of The Great Gatsby. I mean, I love this show so much. The cast, the musical numbers, the choreography, the set, everything was spectacular. And we all have heard the rumors. We all know this show is coming to Broadway later this season. And y'all are going to love it as much as I loved it. I mean, Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Sam Pauly, Noah Ricketts, those four killed it on stage. It was everything you want for a Gatsby Broadway musical. The set was lavish and gave Gatsby, gave, you know, over-the-top party host. And the musical numbers and choreography were out of this world. The choreography by Dominique Kelly blew me away. I mean, his dance moves stick in my head. And, I mean, you guys are just going to love this show on Broadway. I know it for sure.

[10:03] Joel Crump: Number two goes to Parade. I mean, this show won Best Revival of a Musical. And it did it for a reason because Parade was devastating and so, so fantastic. I feel like I'm saying fantastic over and over again. But all these shows were truly fantastic, but Parade especially. It tells this true story of Leo Frank and Mary Fagan. And Ben Platt, Michaela Diamond, Alex Joseph Grayson, the entire cast tell the story so well. It was like one huge syncopation all running towards the same goal.

[10:38] Joel Crump: And the number one show of 2023 for me was Shucked on Broadway. I mean, if you guys know me, you know how much I loved Shucked this year. It is so funny. The book by Robert Horne was beyond belief. It was hilarious to the max. The score by Shane McAnally and Brandi Clark felt so Broadway and felt so country and married them together in the perfect way. And the cast was unbelievable. The cast loves the story they're telling and it's telling the story so well. And I'm just so sad that Shucked is closing, y'all. I'm going to miss Shucked so shucking much. It is corny. It is funny. It gives you all the good feels. And you walk out of that theater smiling and happy. And you know what? Theater is all about happiness.

And Shucked gave you just that. So if you can go see Shucked before it closes on Broadway, go see it. And not to fear because Shucked is going on tour, y'all. So everybody around the country is going to get Shucked. But this show takes the number one spot. And I can't wait to see this show all over all the regional theaters on tour in the West End. I think it's going to succeed forever because it's so shucking good. Well, there you go. That is my top 10 list for 2023. Some other of my favorite moments were being at the last performance for Phantom of the Opera. Being in that room, being at the final performance was just beyond belief, you guys. There were so many stars in the room, all of the alumni.

I was, in fact, sitting next to one of the former Christine Daaés. And to see the chandelier go up for the final time, go down for the final time, see everyone take their bows for the final time was unbelievable. A moment to never forget. And it was my first time seeing Phantom of the Opera. Can you believe it? It was my first time seeing Phantom of the Opera on its last performance. I mean, it doesn't get better than that. That is any Broadway lover's dream to be in that room. And the fact that I was there just means so much to me. Another moment I loved was Wicked 20. Celebrating Wicked's 20th anniversary was so much fun. And if you guys missed it, I did an incredible series with my mentor, Miss Kristen Chenoweth, revisiting the magic with Kristen Chenoweth and Joel Crump.

And that series did so well on all my platforms, let me say that. It was just so fun to film and revisit that magic of Wicked with the original Glinda, Kristen Chenoweth. I also loved red carpets like New York, New York, and of course the Tony Awards and Shucked red carpet and Spamalot's red carpet. I mean, I can go on and on about this year, but I'm so blessed to be able to be getting content for you guys for Broadway Time My Business and to be sharing the thing I love most, Broadway, with Broadway actors, Broadway performers, and stars. So thank you guys so much for making this an incredible year for me. But now it's time for my favorite interview moments from this year. It's time for some interviews.

My first interview was from the 2023 Tony Awards media room. I had the honor of asking Victoria Clark a question right after her win. And it was just such a special moment connecting with such an incredible performer after such a huge win. And you know, she won this award 20 years ago for The Light in the Piazza, and now she won it for Kimberly Akimbo. And Victoria also gave me one of the most incredible experiences of 2023, going backstage at Kimberly Akimbo and seeing what the backstage area was like and going in her dressing room. It was just so, so much fun. So here is my chat with Victoria Clark from the 2023 Tony Awards.

[14:45] Joel Crump: Hi Victoria, congratulations. I mean, this is so incredible. It's so good to see you.

[14:50] Victoria Clark: Good to see you too. Yeah, it's such an incredible career. I have to know who or what has been your greatest inspiration?

[14:56] Victoria Clark: Wow, that is a really tough question. I drew and still draw a lot of my inspiration from the great opera singers. So I would say Leontyne Price and Marilynne Warren were my idols growing up. And I think also the great comedians, you know, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball. So my taste, you know, goes from high comedy to high art. And I think that's a great thing about this piece. And that's why I'm so honored to be in this piece, because, you know, David goes very deftly between sort of this rival comedy and very heartfelt art. So it's a good mix.

[15:55] Joel Crump: See how graceful and brilliant Victoria Clark is. If you guys haven't seen her in Kimberly Akimbo yet, what are you doing? It won Best Musical. It won five Tony Awards this season. And you won't want to miss it while it's on Broadway. And she is a performance not to miss. My next interview is actually my mom's top pick from the 2023 year. It is also an interview that I was going to feature anyway, because it was so special. It was my chat with NaTasha Yvette Williams at the Tony Awards Press Junket. This is her first Tony Award nomination. And it was such an emotional, heartfelt interview. And it had to be a part of my 2023 top favorite moment. So here is my chat with NaTasha Yvette Williams.

[16:35] Joel Crump: Hey, you guys, I'm here with NaTasha Yvette Williams. You play Sweet Sue in Some Like It Hot. And this is your first Tony nomination. How does it feel?

[16:47] NaTasha Yvette Williams: It feels absolutely incredible and indescribable. I am amazed every moment of this experience and, and grateful, very grateful. I feel like you and Sweet Sue relate in so many ways. You both are energetic, excited, have a passion for what you're doing. Tell me about how you two relate and how you truly bring yourself into Sweet Sue.

[17:03] NaTasha Yvette Williams: Sweet Sue is a boss. I think like to think of myself that way. But she's also like a I put together like the aunts in my family, the women in my family who've inspired me, who've encouraged me, and who've nurtured me. Yeah. And so she's, she's that so identify with her that way. And that she cares about this group of women that she's traveling with. But they also make her who she is. She get they give her purpose.

[17:31] Joel Crump: You are such an example of black excellence on stage. When I watch Some Like It Hot I said, Wow, that's truly showing how amazing we are. And amazing we can be. I want to know, how does it feel for you to be such an example of black excellence?

[17:40] NaTasha Yvette Williams: I am astonished right now. Just listening to you. Thank you. You are the very thing you just said. Black excellence. Thank you. personified at such a young age, and I can't wait to see you fly and soar. If you see that in me, it is amazing to me. And I thank you for being who you are, and recognizing that the show and that whatever we're doing has made some impact on your life. And I'm just grateful for the moment.

[18:15] Joel Crump: We have to do that one. The last thing the last thing I want to know is, where were you when you were nominated? And what were you doing?

[18:21] NaTasha Yvette Williams: You know, I'm native and on a joyous note. Yes, it was joyous. I was in the peacock room at the NBC studios because the cast had just performed on the Today Show. And I went to the restroom came up the steps and my category was being called after like one or two had gone before it. And I heard my name and I just sort of collapsed and cried again because I'm a crier and was asking Is this real? Is this real? Or is this just something I've been dreaming about? But that's where I was with my entire cast with the cast most of the cast. And we all just hugged each other and cried and yelled. It was great.

[18:59] Joel Crump: Thank you so much. That moment for me felt like one of my most profound moments as a journalist, being able to have such a connection with such a brilliant performer. And it was also I'm pretty sure one of the first times I made a performer cry during an interview, which is not like, haha, I made her cry. But it's like, you know, to be able to be asking these people such in depth questions that make them truly reflect on their careers is such an opportunity that I will never take for granted. My last favorite moment of 2023 is with Lin-Manuel Miranda. You know that moment, everyone has seen it. It is when I rapped with Lin-Manuel Miranda at the red carpet for New York, New York. It was such a crazy experience. And it's something I will never forget. So here's the rap. I mean, I could do it word for word. But here's the man himself Lin-Manuel Miranda and I rapping on the carpet.

[19:51] Lin-Manuel Miranda: Listen, I couldn't say it better. We wrote a big giant love letter to New York. Yes, I'm old in Latin, but we wrote about all of Manhattan. And so I think we accomplished our goal. And that's why you get some beatboxing from Joel. Remix, remix, remix. Well, listen, I couldn't say it better. 2023 was a big, giant love letter to Broadway. And I'm not that old yet. But I know for sure this one was not to forget. And so I think we accomplished our goal. Let's get ready for 2024. You guys, that's it for this episode of the Weekly Dose of Joel. You guys got my top 10 favorite shows of the year, my favorite moments, some Broadway buzz, and a little rap, a little remix from the genius himself Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Thank you guys so much for tuning in to this episode of the Weekly Dose of Joel. And thank you for tuning in in 2023. 2024. I have some huge plans. I have things that I want to do for this podcast that are going to make it so much fun. And I hope you come along on this ride with me. I'm talking more giveaways, more guests, some long interviews, everything you want and more. But until then, have a happy new year. And I'll see you next year for the Weekly Dose of Joel.